Strategies for Aligning Standards-Based Education and Transition

Over the past 20 years, major transformations have occurred in educational, social, political, and economic areas that coqtinue to have an impact on the education and development of youth with disabilities and the institutions that support them. Approximately half of all students with disabilities in 2003-04 spent 80% or more of their day in a general education classroom with their nondisabled peers (National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 ), and antidiscrimination laws have improved access to postsecondary education and employment in a variety of occupations. The national investment is increasing to assist all individuals to access education and employment-preparation programs and foster social and economic independence. Interest in career development and transid.on is higher than it has ever been in the past, in the United States as well as other nations (Gordon, 1999). Successful transition from secondary education is becoming recognized as a chief indicator of the effectiveness of our educational system for preparing youth and young adults for employment, postsecondary education, military service, and adult independence. Preparation for transition from school to adult life involves changes in the individual's self-concept, motivation, and development and is a fragile passage for the adolescent seeking to make difficult life choices (German, Martin, Marshall, & Sale, 2000). This passage is even more delicate for youth with disabilities who need additional support and preparation to make the journey. For professionals seeking to help students on this journey, the process involves forming linkages among education and other human service agencies, including employment and training, adult services, and rehabilitation. The concept of high school transition and preparation for careers has been emerging since the 1950s. Educators and policy makers have come to recognize the role of careervocational development in adolescent development and the importance of providing graduation pathways for youth with different postschool goals. Researchers have explored the range of interventions believed to be associated positively with improved graduation rates